TLDR
- Serghei Spivac will fight Ante Delija on February 22, 2026 at UFC Houston
- The main card heavyweight bout takes place at the Toyota Center
- Delija, 35, is coming off a controversial loss involving an accidental eye poke
- Spivac, 31, is a grappler who averages around 5 takedowns per fight
- Delija trains with heavyweight Tom Aspinall and stands 6’5″ tall
Sources: sports.betmgm.com | sofascore.com | wewantpicks.com
Serghei Spivac and Ante Delija will face off in a heavyweight bout at UFC Houston on February 22, 2026. The fight is part of the main card at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez, taking place at the Toyota Center.
Spivac, 31, represents Moldova and stands 190 cm tall. He is known as a grappler with strong ground and pound skills and solid takedown ability.
Delija, 35, hails from Croatia and measures 191 cm in height. Both fighters have a reach of 1.98 meters, making them evenly matched in terms of physical dimensions.
Spivac’s Grappling Style
The Moldovan fighter averages approximately five takedowns per fight. His strength lies in his ground game, though he struggles with control once opponents hit the mat.
Spivac is coming off a decision loss to Waldo Cortes Acosta. The fight was closer than the scorecards indicated, according to observers.
While Spivac has decent striking with a good jab and solid volume, he lacks knockout power. His submission game is described as capable but not exceptional.
UFC Fight Night – Serghei Spivac vs Ante Delija: Preview & Betting Tipshttps://t.co/l01loKavfz#boxing #boxingnews #boxingtwitter pic.twitter.com/rjL609apEm
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Delija’s Controversial Last Fight
Delija’s most recent bout ended in controversy. He accidentally eye poked Waldo Cortes Acosta during their fight and then appeared to finish him.
The referee initially stopped the fight and called it complete. Delija, his family, and everyone at the Apex facility began celebrating what they thought was a knockout victory.
However, officials discovered the eye poke and restarted the fight. Cortes Acosta went on to win by knockout, giving Delija a loss on his record.
The Croatian fighter is a training partner of heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall. He is known for throwing powerful strikes and shooting takedowns.
At 6’5″, Delija is considered very large for the heavyweight division. He possesses great control on the ground and is described as a very good fighter.
Analysts note that if Delija were younger than 35, he would be considered an incredible prospect. His experience and size give him advantages in many matchups.
Spivac’s biggest challenge will be implementing his grappling game against a bigger opponent. Delija is both taller and more experienced as a wrestler.
The Moldovan fighter has found success when he can use his size advantage to secure takedowns. Against Delija, he will face someone who matches or exceeds him in physical stature.
Delija’s striking power is considerably greater than Spivac’s. He throws heavy punches and is always looking for a finish.
The Croatian’s main concern coming into this fight is his chin after the stoppage in his last bout. However, Spivac’s lack of knockout power may reduce that risk.
Both fighters will look to control the pace of the fight. Spivac needs takedowns to win, while Delija can win standing or on the ground.
The bout is scheduled to begin at 12:00 AM UTC on February 22. Fans can watch the fight as part of the UFC Fight Night card at the Toyota Center in Houston.
